Resources

I thought it would be helpful to create a resource page that you can always come to for all of your A/E/C marketing needs. I’ll add to it as I learn more, but you’ll notice that in the future I will reference this page quite often. I recommend bookmarking it for your reference and convenience. Enjoy!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase. Please understand that I have experience with all of these companies, and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.

Services

Evernote – I learned long ago that my memory is questionable at best. Evernote serves as my second brain. It can capture anything and everything (notes, PDFs, photos, etc.), OCR the text, and make it searchable so I don’t have to rely on my fallible memory.

Tools of The Trade/Products I Use

Livescribe Smartpen – Architects and Engineers speak faster than I can write and listen. I used to either miss a lot of things they said or forget they said it. That is until I started using Livescribe’s smartpen, which records what people say and connects it to the notes I write down. I can interview someone or attend a meeting knowing that I can go back a week later and revisit the entire discussion.

Phillips Wake Up Light – It is the ugliest alarm clock in the world. But if you are not a morning person, it is the best thing in the world.

Web

Bluehost – I used several web hosting services that will remain nameless. My web developer suggested Bluehost and I’ve been very happy with them. CLICK HERE TO SIGNUP FOR BLUEHOST.COM

Software

TextExpander (Mac)and Phase Express (Windows) – This software changed my bad writing habits into good ones. There are words I always spell wrong. I enter those words in these programs and they automatically correct them (along with the countless preinstalled words).

They also save me a ton of time by letting me set up templates for my email, boilerplate passages for marketing materials, and shortcuts for information I type way too much (like our address).

Zurmo – Zurmo is the free web-based CRM that I contributed ideas to. It is still in the early stages of development, but it already has everything a small business might need in a CRM.

Proposal Books

Proposal Development Secrets – This is my book on proposal management and writing. It’s one if the best-selling proposal books on Amazon. Available in paperback and Kindle.

The Magic of Winning Proposals – One of the best “how to” books on proposals. It’s only available in Kindle and iBook format, but that shouldn’t stop you from reading it.

Proposal Writing in a Nutshell – My quick primer on proposal writing. Only available in Kindle format.

Other Books

Marking Handbook for the Design and Construction Professional This handbook was created by the Society of Marketing Professional Services for people in the A/E/C industry. Some of the top minds in the field contributed chapters to this book. It’s a must buy if you plan on taking the CPSM exam. I use it as a training tool for people who are new to the industry.

Network Like An Introvert – A must-buy book from the guy who taught me the successful approach to networking.

Rainmaking – The book that takes the mystery out of relationship marketing.

Influence: Science and Practice – Dr. Robert Cialdini’s masterpiece on the science behind how our decisions are influenced.

Getting Things Done – David Allen’s book on dramatically boosting your productivity.